2026 recruiting

[Rooster1]

That’s true. It’ll help that they are surrounding by talented players with experience in year 1. Civil and Prawl have the size right now that is needed to step on the court physically early without being at a disadvantage.
Mia and Mya are ready athletically they will have to get stronger and get accustomed to the speed of the college game. That’s really it. I saw how much stronger Kaniya Boyd got from high school to college over the summer which is why I think the Pauldo twins will get there with their work ethic. The USC, Michigan, and Louisville freshmen classes are good measuring sticks to use with this group because I feel that all players at each of these three schools went to the perfect fit.

Cooper, Whitehorn , Boyd and Spearman along with Latham will be a good group to blend with the freshman. The freshman will need those players to help them adjust to and learn the college game. Coop esp needs to make it a team thing, she is the de facto leader.

 

[Rooster1]

That’s true. It’ll help that they are surrounding by talented players with experience in year 1. Civil and Prawl have the size right now that is needed to step on the court physically early without being at a disadvantage.
Mia and Mya are ready athletically they will have to get stronger and get accustomed to the speed of the college game. That’s really it. I saw how much stronger Kaniya Boyd got from high school to college over the summer which is why I think the Pauldo twins will get there with their work ethic. The USC, Michigan, and Louisville freshmen classes are good measuring sticks to use with this group because I feel that all players at each of these three schools went to the perfect fit.

I may be wrong, but Prawl should be the biggest impact player out of the shoot in the UT system. Caldwell will probably give the twins all the minutes they need to grow up fast in college ball also, I expect both to be contributors, but Boyd will be the lead PG. I’m curious about Civil. I have watched some film. She could be the best one of the litter or the last one, it’s hard to tell. Some will say she is the bomb already, a sure thing. Perhaps, I think she needs a season or so but wth do I know.

Hurst is a complete unknown imo, could swing either way, but she looks the part of a specialist type if she sticks to BB. Either way, there are 2-3 impact players in this group right away and 3-4 long term with a possible 5th in there also, a great class. Prawl might be amazing right away. The twins will be good right away also, good enough to play a bunch.

Spearman will make a big jump next year imo. She might be ALL SEC.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Can’t go wrong with picking any of the four in Mia, Mya, Civil, or Prawl. They all seem mature and talented enough to make an impact on the team in any role this season.
Civil has a unique style that reminds me of Jaylyn Sherrod and Talayia Cooper. I will never forget how Colorado a few years ago beat LSU badly with the proclaimed Super Team and some LSU players literally looked like they were about to come to tears. Sherrod was the best player on the court and it wasn’t even close. In this system, Civil could become an instant impact player if she is a student of the game. Our freshmen will have to be as prepared mentally as physically that’s the missing link right now of this entire program, the mental component of becoming a true winner to reach that standard set by the legend Coach Summitt.

I may be wrong, but Prawl should be the biggest impact player out of the shoot in the UT system. Caldwell will probably give the twins all the minutes they need to grow up fast in college ball also. I’m curious about Civil. I have watched some film. She could be the best one of the litter or the last one, it’s hard to tell. Some will say she is the bomb already, a sure thing. Perhaps, I think she needs a season or so but wth do I know.

Hurst is a complete unknown imo, could swing either way, but she looks the part of a specialist type if she sticks to BB.

 

[Rooster1]

Can’t go wrong with picking any of the four in Mia, Mya, Civil, or Prawl. They all seem mature and talented enough to make an impact on the team in any role this season.
Civil has a unique style that reminds me of Jaylyn Sherrod and Talayia Cooper. I will never forget how Colorado a few years ago beat LSU badly with the proclaimed Super Team and some LSU players literally looked like they were about to come to tears. Sherrod was the best player on the court and it wasn’t even close. In this system, Civil could become an instant impact player if she is a student of the game. Our freshmen will have to be as prepared mentally as physically that’s the missing link right now of this entire program, the mental component of becoming a true winner to reach that standard set by the legend Coach Summitt.

You follow this stuff closer than I do, I‘ll take your word on most of it, even knowing the homer mode is in affect, doesn’t mean you are wrong. I hope they are all great players. I’m expecting Mia to make some ESPN highlight reels next season btw.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Another thing with this system's unique demands and opportunities is that the player who thrives in it the most might be a surprise to us all. Because for the players, it presents a whole new palette of options to explore and put to canvas.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

I don’t necessarily follow it closely. I’ll pull some highlights and watch their high school games as most people but I analyze it differently than most people because I have an eye for talent. Been offered twice to cover athletics for recruiting services but I don’t invest that much time so I turned it down. It’s a hobby to me.
I knew that McDaniel, Kitts, Tess, Feagin, Edwards, Fulwiley, Johnson, Hall, etc. would be the next wave and what they’re doing under Coach Staley at SC was coming by watching their highlights.
Same with these players under Coach Caldwell. If I had to pick I would say the FOY in the SEC comes from UT even if Chavez picks Texas or Oklahoma but it could also be Makeer at SC. She plays at a high level.
Long ways to go but again these schools are built to develop young players quicker in today’s game.

You follow this stuff closer than I do, I‘ll take your
word on most of it, even knowing the homer mode is in affect, doesn’t mean you are wrong. I hope they are all great players btw. I’m expecting Mia to make some ESPN highlight reels next season btw.

 

[Dak1219]

You saying this constantly over and over to try to prove a point when the first HS recruiting class features 3 McDAAs, 2 Gatorade POY honorees, 2 Naismith All-American (1 2nd team and Honorable Mention) as part of the overall #1 247Sports and #2 ESPN recruiting classes is just out of touch with reality. Nobody cares what your Tier 1 is, it doesn’t take away from the HS careers and accolades these players have earned over their careers. Or the careers they will have on the college level.

Sydney Smallbone and Emily Saunders were Gatorade POY's in their states coming into Tennessee and we all saw how that worked out. Reality is, nobody knows how any of the 25 recruiting class will transition to the speed and athleticism of this level until they are on the court. Then you have to factor in attitude, Coachability, IQ and also remember freshman are freshman. There are only 2 freshman this year who really stand out and that is Strong and Edward's. Those types of top tier recruits don't come along very often.

 

[th2421]

There are only 2 freshman this year who really stand out and that is Strong and Edward's. Those types of top tier recruits don't come along very often.

I would add Jaloni Cambridge, Syla Swords, Mikayla Blakes, and Olivia Olson to that list of freshmen who were really big-time this season.

 

[Dak1219]

I would add Jaloni Cambridge, Syla Swords, Mikayla Blakes, and Olivia Olson to that list of freshmen who were really big-time this season.

They've all been solid, but would they see significant playing time and be game changers on top 10 teams? Cambridge has, but she has been spotty with her play throughout the season, maybe because of the very talented players around.

 

[Volfan2012]

Another question, does reading stats off a stat sheet tell the story, or is it the eye test? So the players that have a better percentage is better than Juju in your opinion?

Depends on the other parts of their game passing, defense etc. She is a really good passer and defender more efficient than scoring. She also is a solid rebounder. She scores a lot at an average efficeint rate. My answer would be if there is a player that passed the ball as well as she does, defended as well, handles as well, rebounds as well and shot the ball for a better average yes that player would be the better player. I know she goes off sometimes and has a super offensive game where she is very efficient. There are also games where she goes 8 for 29. She is inconsistent on offense gets a high average on volume still a great player because of the other parts of her game.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

Stats are easy to read, and hard to 'fake'. The "eye test" is far less reliable as it expressly depends upon the eyes that are doing the looking. Lots of room for error with this method. Usually, the eye test is used as a mechanism for disregarding stats when one diasgrees with a particular players greatness..